Suicide Issues & Stories in the News

• To Reduce Suicides, Look at Guns
Why is the leadership in the suicide prevention world MIA when it comes to doing something about guns? Because they’re cowards!Washington Post, July 13, 2016

• Finding Comfort in Talking to the Security GuardWho Witnessed a Sister’s SuicideSuch a beautifully-written and touching piece by Jennifer Couzin-Frankel, a staff writer for Science magazine! A must-read.New York Times, July 8, 2016

• To Reduce Suicides, Keep the Guns Away!
This is a total no-brainer. Impose a waiting period. Require guns to be locked up. Why is everyone so afraid to take on the gun radicals at the NRA?New York Times, November 14, 2015

• Parent’s Death During Childhood Tied to Increased Suicide RiskFor children who lose a parent to suicide the risk is higher (3.4 times versus double).Reuters, November 12, 2015

• Startling Rise in Death Rates Among Some White Middle Aged Men
Whether by deliberate acts of suicide or slow suicide by drinking or drug addition, middle aged men with less than a college degree are dying in growing numbers.New York Times, November 2, 2015

• When Deciding to Live Means Avoiding Guns
This NPR story is a must-listen. When are we going to get serious dealing with guns and suicide?NPR, September 24, 2015

• America’s Biggest Gun Problem Is Suicide
Time to impose a waiting period on gun purchases. Why is everyone so afraid to challenge the NRA?Newsweek, September 21, 2015

• Interview with Philip Connor, Author of Memoir About His Brother’s Suicide
This is a “must-listen” interview. Philips book (at least from the sound of it in the “Fresh Air” interview) is terrific. The title is All the Wrong Places. Connor is the author of the award-winning Fire Season.NPR’s “Fresh Air,” February 24, 2015

• Getting Grief Right
This is a must-read article for anyone who has experienced the death of a loved one, no matter what the cause. Psychotherapist Patrick O’Malley provides a realistic picture of what to expect. The best thing I’ve read on the subject.New York Times, January 10, 2015

• Funding Approved for Suicide Safety Net on the Golden Gate BridgeAt last! Congratulations to Eve R. Meyer at SFSP and all the other people who have worked to make this happen.The Santa Rosa Press Democrat, Jun 27, 2014

• New Study: Gay Teen Suicide More Likely After Religious Counseling
This doesn’t seem in the least bit surprising given what most traditional religions still preach about homosexuality.Gay Star News, June 26, 2014

• As a Patrolman on SF’s Golden Gate Bridge, Kevin Briggs Helped Bring People Back From the Brink
Watch his TED talk in which he gives a powerful piece of advice to those with loved ones who might be thinking of taking their own lives.TED Talks, June 13, 2014

• A Mysterious Death That Doesn’t Sound So Mysterious to MeHere’a an entire column in the NY Times about the suicide death of the author’s husband in which the word “suicide” never appears. It’s an unintentionally revealing piece about how suicide’s stigma and shame compelled this one adult to “protect” her child from the truth and how that child, now an adult, felt compelled to search for answers about her father’s life and death.New York Times, April 13, 2014

• A Proposal Worth Considering? A Congressman Offers Ideas for Overhauling Mental-Health Care
Everyone agrees that the current system is a mess. I’m no expert, but a lot of these recommendations seem like common sense.Wall Street Journal, December 26, 2013

• Private Foundations Take on Challenge of Understanding Depression Through Collaborative Studies
It’s stunning how little we really know about depression, its causes, and effective treatments. With reduced government funding for research, private foundations are picking up the ball by sponsoring collaborative research efforts.New York Times, December 23, 2013

• Anxiety More likely Than Depression to Lead to Suicidal Ideation
Fascinating stuff in these new studies about the direct link between
anxiety and suicide. Makes sense to me!Decoded Science, December 23, 2013

• Wow! This Is An Incredible Interview on John Hockenberry’s “The Takeaway” Radio Show re: College Students and Suicide
This interview features a college student and the founders of the Jed Foundation, Donna and Phil Satow, who lost their son to suicide 15 years ago.The Takeaway, December 20, 2013

• A No Holds Barred Take-Down of the NFL Over Attitudes Towards Bullying, Mental Health, and SuicideI shouldn’t be shocked, but I am.Grantland, November 7, 2013

• We’re Failing Our Suicidal Veterans and It’s Worse Than We Think
A very brave former Marine writes about his experience trying to get help following a suicide attempt. I shouldn’t have been shocked, but I was horrified by what I read. We can do better. A lot better. But why aren’t we?New York Times, November 5, 2013

• Must-Read Op-Ed About The Complicated Relationship Between Bullying and Suicide from the Program Director of the Trevor ProjectThe Advocate, November 4, 2013

• Can Twitter Be a Suicide Prevention Tool?
Suicide talk on Twitter mirrors state suicide rates, so perhaps it can serve as an early warning system for those at risk. Researchers think that’s a possibility. I’m skeptical.USA Today, October 10, 2013

• What We Know & What We Don’t About Why People Kill Themselves
This is an incredibly informative report, including compelling evidence as to why we need to do A LOT more about keeping guns out of the home (and at the very least, under lock and key).Science Friday (on NPR), August 30, 2013

• Forcing the Severely Mentally Ill Into Treatment Works
With adequate funding NY State’s Kendra’s Law has been an unqualified success.
People who need treatment but resist and are compelled by court order to get treatment
do surprisingly well. Sounds like effective suicide prevention to me!NY Times, July 30, 2013

• Matthew K. Knock, the “Suicide Detective”
Upends Our Assumptions About SuicideOne of the most influential suicide researchers in the world is developing methods
for assessing who is at the greatest risk.NY Times, June 30, 2013

• A Buddhist Monk Confronts Japan’s Suicide Culture
Compelling profile of a Japanese monk who has dedicated his life to
counseling suicidal people using methods that are, to say the least,
unconventional, although seemingly effective.The New Yorker, June 24, 2013

• Compelling 3-Part NPR Series on Suicide in the MilitaryPart 1: “After A Marine’s Suicide, A Family Recalls Missed Red Flags”NPR, June 19, 2013Part 2: “At A Texas Base, Battling Army’s Top Threat: Suicide”NPR, June 20, 2013Part 3: “Seeking Mental Health Help Can Be Hard In Military Culture”NPR, June 21, 2013

• New Study Attempts to Answer the “Why?” QuestionThis is the one question everyone asks in the wake of a suicide. This study attempts to shed new light on why people kill themselves.The Province, June 14, 2013

• Attention Journalists! Reporting Responsibly About Suicide
A journalist whose dad took his life writes about his own experience with the press. His
piece includes a link to excellent guidelines.New Statesman (UK), June 7, 2013

• Fiscal Austerity Policies Kill
Is anyone surprised that fiscal austerity has led to an increase in suicides in
countries that have imposed draconian budget cuts on the backs of working
people and the poor? Something else for the “fiscal conservatives” to brag about!New York Times, May 13, 2013

• Michel Martin, host of NPR’s “Tell Me More,” Talks About
Impact of Her Brother’s Suicide in Light of Suicide Rate Jump
This is a must-listen!NPR, May 8, 2013

• People Who Have Attempted Suicide Speak Out
Who better to learn from about suicide prevention than people who have tried to kill themselves? AAS launches a website called “What Happens Now?” to engage survivors in a public forum.Washington Post, April 13, 2013

• Suicide Risk Linked To Gun Ownership
Since we know this to be the case (this isn’t the first study to come up with these
results) why aren’t organizations like AFSP lobbying harder for stronger gun safety
measures (like requiring all guns to be locked up!).UPI.com, April 5, 2013

• Department of Defense Reviews 900+ Suicide Prevention Programs to
See What Works and What Doesn’tThis is just the kind of research that the government should be doing since we know that suicide prevention hotlines don’t prevent suicide and looking for warning signs is for the most part useless as well.Marine Corps Times, March 25, 2013

• Battling Suicide In a ‘Gun State’ Means Treading Carefully
Maybe it’s time to stop treading carefully and do something bold to counter gun
advocates who care more about the freedom to own guns than the terrible impact
of suicide deaths by gunfire.NPR, March 24, 2013

• Telling the Truth About A Father’s Suicide
Newspaper reporter Laurie Loisel writes about how her family chose not to hide their father’s suicide and included his cause of death in his obituary. Laurie’s family is a role model for how to deal with a loved one’s suicide without shame.Daily Hampshire Gazette, March 8, 2013

•Curbing Suicide With Sensible Gun RegulationsWhy are we so afraid of the gun lobby when we know that
sensible regulations will reduce suicides?New York Times, March 8, 2013

• Help For Families Struggling with Mental Illness
Attorney Carolyn Reinach Wolf assists families in navigating the mental health
care system to get loved ones the help they need.New York Times, February 8, 2013

• ADHD + Adderall = Suicide?A close look at the problem of ADHD medical practices and
amphetamine addiction. The article focuses on the case of one
young man who killed himself.New York Times, February 2, 2013

• As Suicide Rate Rises in U.S. Veterans are Less of Total
This seems like a strange story to me, as if this is good news. Seems
like bad news all around.New York Times, February 1, 2013

• A Challenge to Those Who Claim Guns at Home Make Us Safe
Here’s a compelling challenge to those who say, “guns don’t kill people, people kill people.” This columnist argues persuasively that people who keep guns in their homes are less safe because those guns are far more often used in suicide and murder than for protection. It’s time to stand up to the NRA and say: Control guns. Prevent suicide.Chicago Tribune, January 4, 2013

• New Department of Defense Study Reveals How Much We Don’t
Know About Suicide
This new report suggests there is still a lot to be learned about suicide
and its causes. And if we don’t know what leads people to take their lives,
how can we begin to prevent it?Time.com, January 3, 2013

• Understanding Suicide in the Context of Murder-Suicide
Must-read column by Andrew Solomon offers insight into the recent
massacre at an elementary school in Newtown, Connecticut.New York Times, December 23, 2012

• Two New Studies on Impact of Suicide on Surviving Family Members
One of the studies looks specifically at children who lose a parent to suicide
early in life and their increased risk of dying by suicide.Medscape News, December 11, 2012

• Review of Oddly NormalNY Times journalist John Schwartz combines the story of his gay son’s suicide attempt and struggle to embrace his sexuality with a report about research on LGBT teens in a compelling new book.NY Times, November 11, 2012

• Researchers Say Cyber-Bullying Rarely Sole Link to Suicide
Given that there were only 41 suicides studied you really have to wonder how any concrete conclusions can be drawn from such a small sample.UPI.com, October 21, 2012

• Military’s “Stand Down For Suicide” Day Is A Big Joke
I was sorry to read confirmation of what I feared. More about
public relations than a real effort to prevent suicide.Business Insider, October 2, 2012

• Caution Re: Talking About LGBT Youth Suicides and Bullying
A terrific op-ed from the director of the Trevor Project about how
the ways we talk about this issue can unintentionally spread the problem.The Advocate, October 20, 2011

• Better Mental Health Care for Veterans Called for
in the Wake of Court Decision
A federal circuit court finds government incompetence is leading to thousands of suicides.New York Times Editorial, May 19, 2011

• Bernard Madoff’s Son Kills Himself: On the second anniversary of his father’s arrest–and a week after being named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit filed by the trustee seeking assets for victims of the scheme–Mark Madoff hanged himself at home, while his 2-year-old son was asleep in an adjoining bedroom. New York Times, December 11, 2010

• Preventing Military Suicides: NPR’s Scott Simon talks with Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of Joint Chiefs of Staff, and his wife, Deborah, about the increased efforts to curb suicides by military servicemen and women.NPR Weekend Edition, Saturday, November 6, 2010

• Military Suicides: In light of record military suicides and high death rates among returning soldiers from a variety of causes, columnist Bob Herbert urges better mental health care for U.S. soldiers.New York Times, October 23, 2010

• Survivors of Military Suicides: National Public Radio story on the efforts being made by TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) to support family members left behind in the aftermath of a soldier’s sucide.NPR, October 21, 2010

• President Obama “It Gets Better” Video: President Obama addresses bullying and suicide and urges young people who feel isolated to reach out to adults for help. Very compelling and just the right tone.From the White House, October 21, 2010

• Despite Army Efforts, Soldier Suicides Continue: For a variety of reasons, efforts to reduce military suicides fail to affect the rate of suicide among soldiers.New York Times, October 10, 2010

• Survivor Profile—Coping With An Unfinished Life: Karen Green, widow of writer David Foster Wallace, uses her art to work through the experience of losing her husband to suicide.New York Times, October 8, 2010

• Preventing Military Suicides: Congressman Rush Holt urges passage of legislation, named for Coleman Bean, the late son of Greg and Linda Bean, that provides for a national program to reach at-risk National Guard and Reserve members of the military.
New York Times, Letters to the Editor, September 27, 2010

• Funding for Military Mental Health Care: New York Times editorial in favor of legislation to provide funding for mental health care for all Army reservists in light of skyrocketing suicides and suicide attempts. (Seems like a no-brainer, but clearly someone with no brain–or heart–thinks we shouldn’t be spending the money.)New York Times, July 23, 2010